For 2012

Resolution:

1. Not to be late at work.

Plans / Dreams:

1. Travel to a new place once a month.
   Target places:
   Batanes, Batanes, Batanes!
   Japan :) - to see the cherry blossoms
   South Korea
2. June - MS in Environmental Science OR MS in Rural Studies OR Ph.D. in Communication?
3. September - Start a new life.

Song for 2011:

Caledonia

I don't know if you can see
The changes that have come over me
In these last few days I've been afraid
That I might drift away

I've been telling old stories, singing songs
That make me think about where I've come from
That's the reason why I seem
So far away today

[Chorus:]
Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time
Caledonia, you're calling me, now I'm going home

But if I should become a stranger
Know that it would make me more than sad
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Now I have moved and I've kept on moving
Proved the points that I needed proving
Lost the friends that I needed losing
Found others on the way
I have kissed the fellas and left them crying
Stolen dreams, yes, there's no denying
I have traveled hard, sometimes with conscience flying
Somewhere with the wind

[Chorus]

Now I'm sitting here before the fire
The empty room, the forest choir
The flames have cooled, don't get any higher
They've withered, now they've gone

But I'm steady thinking, my way is clear
And I know what I will do tomorrow
When hands have shaken, the kisses float
Then I will disappear

[Chorus]

Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had
Caledonia's been everything I've ever had

Kurapika and Judge Zorro (without cape)

We are only 19 in our office (11 permanent and 8 project staff) and yet here we are, having our very own cosplay. :) Fun! Fun! Fun! Excited na next year!

Like having a two-year old kid

Yesterday I asked Jopet to look at my first entry on what "Love is...". I think he appreciated it because the next thing I knew he volunteered to draw something that i could post along with my next "Love is..." which is holding hands.

He sent me this:



I was all praises for it because it was so cute. However, as i looked closer, I saw that the two people in the drawing are looking at a bombing site where planes are sending out missiles and everything. I immediately called him to ask for a revision. Napakakulit! Parang 2 years old, talaga naman!

After a few minutes of coaxing, he sent me this:



Much better di ba?! :)

Thank you, my lovely toddler.

#1 - Love is...

coming back after saying goodbye just to hug and kiss her. :)

32nd Birthday - Happy!

At age 25, I already reached the conclusion that there is an inverse relationship between ones age and the number of gifts he/she receives. As time goes by, this has become a fact that I learned to accept - with a heavy heart, of course.

And so, this year I was not expecting anything from anybody. Well, I was expecting a little something from Jopet ;) – a frog stuffed toy from Blue Magic to complete my frog collection for this year.

However, as the saying goes: good things happen when you least expect them.

December 11 - My birthday started when I went to Fairview to fetch Jopet. He was so busy these past few weeks that we rarely see each other. I felt that since it was my birthday I would exert a little effort for him. We had dinner with Migs at MOA before we watched Immortals, which by the way was good in the beginning, kinda disturbing in the middle and a bit disappointing in the end.

As a birthday present, Migs gave me a super cute heart radio! Thanks, Dad!



Being my mom/daughter, Arlene waited for us until 2 am just to give me a cake – the number of candles and their sizes made up for the size of the cake. :) A few weeks ago, she also gave me a frog and a turtle stuffed toy. Now I have 2 frogs (the other one came from Carlo) and 1 turtle. :) Thanks, Nanay!

December 12 – Everybody woke up early to celebrate my birthday. Edmond cooked pansit, adobong pusit, and tinolang manok for lunch. Parang fiesta! :) Thanks, Tatay!

After lunch, Jopet and I went out on a field trip. The itinerary was:

1. National Museum
2. Fort Santiago
3. Casa De Manila

I was saddened when we found out that National Museum closes every Monday. :( I guess Jopet saw how disappointed I was because he suggested that we go to Manila Zoo. I told him, no because from what I heard, the animals there are not in good condition any more. I don’t want to be sad on my birthday. He suggested Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), which according to him, was one of his favourite places. During his early years, his Papa would enrol him in the CCP summer arts program. It was during those times when his passion for the arts was honed. Migs, who is also an artist, met us there to explore the place. CCP is old but the grandeur is still there.



After CCP, Migs suggested that we go to Museong Pambata because the exhibits there are interactive. But it was beyond 5pm, we figured it was already closed. We went straight to Intramuros to visit Manila Cathedral.

We decided to forgo our visit to Fort Santiago and Casa de Manila. May part 2 na lang daw ang field trip namin sabi ni Jopet. There he gave me a rose-shaped salmon pink coral earring (such a beauty) as his birthday gift. :) Thank you, Mahal!

December 13 – My birthday would never be complete without my Papa and Mama preparing lunch for my office mates. This started more than a decade ago when I was still with Alpha Cargo International. This year, Papa brought: inihaw na tilapia, bopis (my favorite), spaghetti, and lumpiang sariwa. I super appreciated their effort. Grabe! :) I wonder what will happen next year no?! :) Oh well, I’m sure it will still be special. Thank you Mama and Papa!



Mama, being a generous mom, gave me a Long Champ bag. Bongacious! I would never ever buy this stuff because I find it very expensive and yet my mother gave me one. Whoa!

(Picture to follow)

Next, Ate Wena gave me a very nice Belle Jewellery box. An addition to my Beauty and the Beast collection. :) Thank you Ate Wena. :)



Ate Josh, upon learning that it is my birthday, gave me her mom’s ube halaya. :) Super yum! Thank you Ate Josh!



Ate Cha, although 2 days late gave me a Starbucks Christmas mug. :) Now I have 4 Starbucks mugs and 1 tumbler.



~~~

Of all these things that I received, what I appreciated the most is the time these people spent remembering my birthday and making sure that I would feel special on this special day.

I thank my wonderful and beautiful God for making my day extra special. :) Thank you, Lord for a wonderful year! I pray that you will continue to bless me and my loved ones this coming year so that we may become blessings to others.

Important note: I will try to post the birthday greetings i got from SMS and Facebook, hopefully next week. :)